Illuminated ornamental device for decorative purposes



E. J. GRAF Aug. 22, 1933.

ILLUMINATED ORNAMENIAL DEVICE FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES Filed March 13,1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT ATTORNEY Aug. 22, 1933; E 'GRAF 1,923,144

ILLUMINATED ORNAMENTAL DEVICE FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES Filed March 13,1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 22, 1933 ILLUMINATEDORNAMENTAL DEVICE FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES I Elmer JsGrai', Roselle Park,N. J.

Application March 13, 1931. Serial No. 522,275

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in decorative electricaldevices,- and more particularly is directed to electrically illuminatedornamental units such as are used on Christmas trees, holidaydecorations, and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved unit of thecharacter described comprising few and simple'parts, which is compactand complete in itself, may be plugged directly into an electric lightsocket, and has no loose parts which may be subjected to tampering andremoval.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed comprising a plurality of bulbs electrically connected inpredetermined spaced relation to each other to represent any of a numberof various symbols, and a homogeneous holding element uniting said bulbswith a plug or plug cord into a unitary structure.

These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, areaccomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement ofparts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawings,forming part hereof, and in which:

Figure 1 represents a front elevational view of one form of myinvention, in which the plug is separate from and secured to the holdingelement by means of a flexible cord.

Figure 2 represents a partial fragmentary and partial sectional viewthereof, showing the method of connecting the bulbs and flexible cord,in the holding element.

Figure 3 represents a partial sectional side elevational view taken online 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 represents a side elevation view of this form of my invention.

Figure 5 represents a partial sectional front elevational view of a formof my invention in which the plug is embedded in the holding ele-' ment,and forms a unitary structure with the bulbs and said holding element. 4

Figure 6 represents a partial sectional side elevational view taken online 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 represents aperspective view of one of the bulbs and itsterminal wires, used with my invention.

Figure 8 represents a fragmentary partial sectional front elevationalview of a form of my invention in which additional ornamentation, suchas holly leaves or tinsel, as shown, is embedded within the holdingelement, and in which an opaque or semi-opaque coating is applied to abulb to create a hazy effect or to create the effect of only a smallportion of the bulb being lighted.

. JAN 2 8-1936 Figure 9 represents a front elevational view of a wreathto which a plurality of my improved units, embodying the features shownin Figure 8, are applied.

Figure 10 represents a side elevational view of 0 a form of my inventionwherein several layers of bulbs are arranged in the holding element, instaggered relation to each other.

Figure 11 represents a front'elevational view of a unit of this typeapplied to a candle holder.

Figure 12 represents a front elevational view of a form of my inventionwherein the holding element is given the form of a rod-like candleholder, the bulbs being arranged in line thereon, to simulate theappearance of a group of candles arranged on a holder.

Figure 13 represents a similar view, in which the holding element isarced to create an arced candle effect.

Figure 14 represents a similar view, in which the holding element isangularly bent midway its length to create the effect of two angularlyarranged groups of bulbs.

Figure 15 represents a front elevational view of an arrangement of aseries of units of the type shown in Figure 12, to create a long,continuous row of candles effect.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention comprisesessentially the electrical unit 1, consisting of the electric bulbs orexhausted envelopes 3, arranged in spaced relation to each other, torepresent any of a number of various symbols, such as the star formshown in Figure 2, or the crucifix form shown in Figure 8, or the candleform, shown in Figures 11 and 12.

Unique and attractive ornamental effects may be obtained by arrangingthe bulbs preferably in staggered relation, in two or three parallellayers, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, in one holding element 2. 95

The bulbs in each unit may be connected in series or parallel, and thebulb connections are embedded within and protected by the holdingelement 2, which, in its preferred form, may co nsist of a plasticsealing compound, such as sealing wax or the like, which maybe formed torepresent any desired configuration, such as the flower ornamentations 4of the holding elements shown in Figure 9, and may be curved or bent, asshown in Figures 13 and 14, into any desired shape.

The holding element 2 may be provided with additional ornamentation byembedding therein holly leaves or tinsel 5, as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

Electrical connection of the unit may be made 110 by means of the plug6, either secured to one side of the holding element 2 and unitarytherewith, as shown in Figure 6, or separate from the holding element 2and connected thereto by a flexible electric cord '7, as shown in Figure1.

The arrangement of alternate forms of units creates a highly ornamentaleffect, as is seen from Figure 9 wherein alternate forms of units arearranged on a wreath, which may be provided with electric sockets intowhich the units may be directly plugged.

By grouping a series of units of the same type together, ornamentaleffects may be obtained, as is shown in Figure 15, wherein a continuouscandle effect is obtained by grouping several units of the candle typeshown in Figure 12 together, and for this purpose the units may beprovided with any desired or convenient interlatchlng members.

By arranging units back to back, in staggered relation, the exposed endsof the bulbs of both units may be seen from either side.

The bulbs 3 may be given any color or combination of colors desired, forreligious or holiday occasions, and may be partially coated with opaqueor semi-opaque substances 8 as shown in Figures 8 and 9, to provide forillumination of only selected portions of the bulbs.

To manufacture the units described, it is merely necessary to first soarrange the bulbs 3 relatively to each other, in a suitable mold (notshown) as to represent the symbol desired, and to electrically connectthe bulbs with the plug 6, in the type of unit shown in Figure 6, or toelectrically connect the bulbs with the flexible electric cord 7 in thetype of unit shown in Figure 1, and, if desired, additional ornamentalelements, such as the holly leaves or tinsel 5 shown in Figures 8 and 9may be placed in the mold, and then a plastic sealing compound, such assealing wax or the like, constituting the holding element 2, is pouredinto the mold uniting with the bulbs and plug, in the type of unit shownin Figure 6, or with the bulbs and flexible cord 7, in the type of unitshown in Figure 1, and also the holly leaves or tinsel 5, in the type ofunit shownin Figure 8, to form a unitary structure.

It will be noted that the device thus made is complete in itself as anelectric unit, does not require assembling by the user, has no looseparts which may be tampered with or lost, and is ready to be pluggedinto an electric socket.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive andillustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of theinvention, of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed inclaimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A deviceof the character described, comprising a base of moldablematerial, a plurality of exhausted envelopes spaced apart andmechanically independent of each other and permanently embedded directlyin said moldable material, fllaments in said envelopes, and conductorsconnecting the filaments, said conductors being embedded in the base.

2 A device of the character described, comprising a base of moldablematerial, a plurality of exhausted envelopes spaced apart andmechanically independent of each other and permanently embedded directlyin said moldable material, filaments in said envelopes, a plug embeddedin the base, and conductors connecting the filaments and the plug, saidconductors being embedded in the base.

ELMER J. GRAF.

